In hunting info on the Millirons, I came across this piece of interesting local history:
"The pioneer settler in what is now Perry township was John Bell.
He erected his cabin there in 1809. His nearest neighbor was nine
miles distant, in Indiana County, and the Barnetts were the nearest on
the north side. Bell came from Indiana Town. He died on the igih of
May, 1855, in his eighty-sixth year. He was an intelligent, industrious
farmer, a justice of the peace, appointed in 1818 by Governor Findley,
and held this office for twenty-five years by appointment or election.
Once, while on his way home from Port Barnett, he observed an Indian
taking aim at him with his rifle from behind a tree. Mr. Bell said in his
lifetime, "That Indian was never seen afterwards." Mr. John Bell was
a great hunter, during his life in Jefferson County he killed two panthers,
ninety-three wolves, three hundred and six bears, and over six hundred
deer.
The next settler in Perry was Archibald Hadden. He came from
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and settled near Mr. John
Bell. In 1812, Hugh McKee, a soldier of this war, settled near Perrys-
ville. John Postlethwait came in 1818, Reuben Hickox in 1822.
Reuben Hickox's hunting exploits alone would make a book. He,
in three days, caught six bears, and in the early part of the season, in
less than three months, secured over fifty of the "bruin" family. He
trapped and hunted principally for bears and wolves. Wild cats were
numerous, and often got into his traps, but he cared naught for them,
Perry township. as their fur was valueless, only bringing in the market ten cents apiece.
As for the deer, they formed the major portion of his bill of fare.
Turkeys, wild ducks, etc. , were numerous, and whenever he had a desire
for fowl, his trusty rifle would soon secure an amount far in excess of the
wants of his family.
